The Column Shift is Dead ! 2013

[1991glforever]

Originally Posted by Dschinghis Kahn

And since every big car still comes with an automatic transmission, it's stupid as all get-out.


Edit: Check out the E-Class.

E-Class Sedan: E350, E350 BlueTEC, E550, E63 AMG Photo & Video Gallery | Mercedes-Benz

No bench seat, but it's sportin' a column shifter

The metal circular knob in the center area between the two front seats is actually the shifter.

Originally Posted by Roach

Because everyone thinks it's SPORTY to loose one more passenger seat.

Its not that people think it's sporty, its that people think bench front seats are old fashioned.

The Charger police package has a column shifter, and there are ways to order police package vehicles from the dealer. Nobody makes front benches though. I'm guessing it's more of a safety issue. If you've got three people squished in the front and get into an accident, even if there are three airbags those three bodies are going to bump into each other.

[unit731]

Originally Posted by 1991glforever

and there are ways to order police package vehicles from the dealer.

I'd like to know how to order a police package.
I do know one old guy up here in hill and mountain country that did get a new Crown Victoria police package - but he knew the owner of the dealership.

I always was under impression that one had to have a "fleet" account with Ford to get one.

What about the taxi cab versions? Can anyone get those? Again, I think it is a fleet and one needs a fleet account.

But if there are other ways - expand on such.

[Roach]

Originally Posted by unit731

Well, I do miss the column shift. And I hate the extra wide center consoles. And I hate small thin hard seats. Tiny seats and as hard as sitting on bricks.

But I would hazzard to guess that this is a generational thing. Column shift cars are for "old" folks. Floor shifters are for "young" folks.

Me, I miss the actual cabin room. I just don't like to be cramped into a capsule of a seat in any car or SUV. All/most now have huge thick consoles that take up too much front seat area.

I'll keep my 1997 for as long as it is reliable. And I will continue to look for another Taurus/Sable wagon that is newer.
As each year goes by there are fewer and fewer good low mileage one owner used ones.

I don't like the new Taurus for that matter. Even though it's a bigger car, I feel more squished in it.

[unit731]

Originally Posted by Roach

I don't like the new Taurus for that matter. Even though it's a bigger car, I feel more squished in it.

Those are exactly my sentiments also.
Just about every car/SUV that I have been in - new ones - it feels hemmed in.

I recently sat in the new Escape. I was amazed at how tight and small the seats were. There is a huge center console. Sales have increased for the new Escape even with the 3 recalls and some catching on fire.

But the new Escape is just too tight for me. Never mind the hard seats.

As I stated before, all is probably a generational thing. Some of us grew up with wide open dashes and big comforatable seats.

I understand that no manufacturer wants 3 seating in front for safety reasons and airbag reason. Even though any full size truck with column shift does legally seat 3 in front. Trucks, I guess are different in that respect.

But still the center console does not have to be so big or so thick. Seats could have been bigger. But with iTunes, iTouch, iPlay, TV screens, touch screens, backup cameras, USB ports, etc. I guess good soft wide seats go to the back burner.

[Dschinghis Kahn]

The safety nannies are beyond irritating. They've turned every car into a bloated, heavy mess. The amount of junk we're now required by law to have in every car is unbelievable.

The hilarious irony is that all this extra crap is killing fuel economy. The sad thing is, the same people pushing for this stuff blame the automakers for lousy fe.

Real easy solution: Strengthen driver's license requirements (and start investing in public transportation, because, aside from all the other good reasons to, we'll be failing quite a few people).

Being smarter (well, let's just start with smart) about road design certainly wouldn't hurt either.

/rant

Originally Posted by 1991glforever

The metal circular knob in the center area between the two front seats is actually the shifter.

No, it isn't.

E-Class Sedan: E350, E350 BlueTEC, E550, E63 AMG Photo & Video Gallery | Mercedes-Benz

[Blkfordtaurusman]

Originally Posted by unit731

If Ford offers the column shift to the police.

Why not offer the column shift to the general public?

How much more in cost for Ford to do this?

Cops need that space for their bolted in laptops and radios. Floor shift has the cool "wish I had a manual" factor.

[Lgbpop]

I always preferred the column shifter, even with my standard trannies. I had two dozen reasons for that; they were all girls between 16 and 23 years old and liked sitting close. Who was I to argue?

P.S. - Before the cops and everybody else come after me, I should point out I was the same age more or less as they were at the time. Also, no snail darters or manatees were harmed in the creation of this post.

[04 SEL]

Will not miss the column shift at all. The Mercedes one is alright though, it's just a small stalk; have used one many times before without issue. Typical Mercedes design ingenuity. Personally, I like the bucket seats and having a bigger center console/armrest in the middle, just feels to me like you are separated more, like in a cockpit. To each his/her own.

[Dschinghis Kahn]

Originally Posted by Lgbpop

I always preferred the column shifter, even with my standard trannies. I had two dozen reasons for that; they were all girls between 16 and 23 years old and liked sitting close. Who was I to argue?

/thread.

[TaurusSHO]

I like what Lincoln has done with the MKZ:


http://media.caranddriver.com/images...s-1280x782.jpg